The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued an advisory to help citizens avoid fraud when purchasing new or used mobile phones.
To protect consumers, PTA recommends several steps to verify a phone’s legitimacy.
To stay safe and avoid scams, PTA advises buying smartphones only from reputable sources and ensuring the devices come with a warranty. PTA also recommends consumers follow these guidelines to avoid fraud:
- Purchase only box-packed phones and verify the PTA stamp on the box. Ensure the IMEI number on the box matches the IMEI on the phone itself.
- Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true, such as expensive phones sold at unusually low prices or without a warranty.
- Conduct the IMEI verification in the presence of the shop owner to ensure authenticity.
PTA offers two verification methods for consumers to check a phone’s status:
- SMS Verification: Send the 15-digit IMEI number via SMS to 8484, and PTA will reply with the device status.
- Online Verification: Visit the PTA’s Device Verification System at [https://dvs.pta.gov.pk/] (https://dvs.pta.gov.pk/) to enter the IMEI number and check the device’s status.
